Top Trump official in Russia probe expected to step down
September 24, 2018
US media reported the imminent departure of US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Monday. It was unclear, however, whether he would resign or be fired.
The New York Times and The Washington Post said that Rosenstein was preparing to be dismissed, following the publication of earlier reports that he had discussed ways to remove Trump over incompetence.
Rosenstein "verbally resigned to Chief of Staff John Kelly in anticipation of being fired by President Trump," reported Axios, citing a source "with direct knowledge."
Last year, Rosenstein had suggested wearing a wire during meetings with Trump to secretly record him, then use the recordings to start a process to remove the president from office, according to the report in The New York Times last week. Rosenstein has denied the report.
Crunch talks
Rosenstein and US President Donald Trump "had an extended conversation to discuss the recent news stories," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement posted on Twitter following the reports. "They will meet on Thursday when the president returns to Washington."
Deep concern
Rosenstein appointed special counsel Robert Mueller and oversees the federal probe into possible collusion between Russia and the 2016 election campaign of then-Republican candidate Trump.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said he was "deeply concerned" about the reports about Rosenstein, saying his departure would put at risk the federal probe into Russian election activities, reported Reuters news agency.
"There is nothing more important to the integrity of law enforcement and the rule of law than protecting the investigation of Special Counsel (Robert) Mueller," McCabe said in a statement. "If the rumors of Deputy AG's Rosenstein's departure are true, I am deeply concerned that it puts that investigation at risk."
Read more: What you need to know the Mueller investigation
kw/kms (AP, AFP, Reuters)